Active Energy appoint new operations chief

Renewable biomass developer Active Energy announced the appointment of Steve Schaar as its chief operating officer on Wednesday.

The AIM-traded company said Schaar would focus on the development of ‘CoalSwitch’ production in the United States, initially in a non-board capacity.

It said Schaar would bring more than 25 years of experience in operations, project development, programme management, and new product launches from a broad range of industries.

His recent experience at Enviva Biomass, one of the world's largest producers of biomass fuels, saw him run large operating production assets while acting as plant manager in the mid-Atlantic and Wilmington regions for Enviva’s production facilities at Sampson, North Carolina and Southampton, Virginia.

Schaar's experience in growing and operating commercial-scale biomass energy manufacturing businesses would be crucial, the board said, as Active Energy’s engineering partner Player Design prepared to commission the first manufacturing facility of CoalSwitch in Maine.

The company was already examining expansion opportunities for manufacturing operations throughout North America.

Before joining Active Energy, Schaar led a $180m capital expansion project for Burnham RNG, developing and operating renewable energy projects in the US.

He also managed global new product programmes and large capital growth expansion projects for John Deere Crop Harvesting, and operations for GE Oil & Gas and Ford Motor Company.

Schaar holds a Master of Business Administration from Baker College, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in automated manufacturing engineering technology from the University of Akron.

“Steve's appointment comes at an important time for Active Energy as our partner, Player Design, prepares to commission the first industrial scale CoalSwitch production plant in the United States in Ashland, Maine,” said chief executive officer Michael Rowan.

“Steve's relevant experience from the biomass industry is crucial for AEG's ability to not only ensure commencement of full scale production operations in Ashland as quickly as possible, but also to create the platform within AEG to allow for future production capacity growth.”

At 1315 GMT, shares in Active Energy Group were down 2.17% in London, at 4.5p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.